about the artist
Kaylyn Hardstaff is an Edmonton-born artist and educator who moved to Nelson in August 2025. She graduated in April 2023 from NSCAD University’s Fine Arts Program in Halifax, Nova Scotia, and has recently returned from a year of travel abroad.
Kaylyn’s practice is rooted in noticing or collecting small things that feel familiar, inspiring, or that evoke a sense of wonder or awe; How day-to-day shifts in anxiety, thought, and mood shape our perception of the world and the objects within it; and how beauty, tranquility, strangeness, unease, and discomfort can all coexist within ourselves and our environments. Another central pillar of her work is the evolving concept of home. What defines it, what surfaces when we think of it (both the comforting and the difficult), and how art can serve as a tool for creating a sense of home and comfort in unfamiliar times.
Having lived across Canada and abroad; from Edmonton to Halifax, Kelowna to Australia, and now Nelson, Kaylyn’s work seeks to reflect the small moments and places that shape who we are.
Her practice spans drawing, painting, printmaking, textiles, sculpture, digital art and writing, choosing the medium that best suits the piece.
exhibitions
Alternator Centre for Contemporary Art | Postcard Project | 2024, Kelowna BC
Alternator Centre for Contemporary Art | 23 – 24 / 24’ – 25’ | 2024, Kelowna BC
Kelowna Community Theater | There is a light that never goes out | 2024, Kelowna BC
NSCAD University | Floor 4 Graduation Exhibition | 2023, Halifax NS
City of Edmonton | #YEG Canvas Billboard | 2016, Edmonton AB
Dandi-Lines Gallery | Collaborations | 2018, Edmonton AB
education
NSCAD University | Bachelor of Fine Arts | 2021 – 2023, Halifax NS
Honours student from 2021 - 2023, graduated on the Dean’s list in 2023. Multidisciplinary program including, art history, painting, drawing, sculpture, pottery, fiber arts, installation; digital media.
MacEwan University | Diploma of Fine Arts | 2017 – 2019, Edmonton AB
Honours student from 2017 - 2019, recipient of the Jason Lang Award in 2018, graduated on the Dean’s list in 2019. Multidisciplinary program including art history, english, psychology, painting, drawing, sculpture, installation, digital media.
murals / public art
Rotary Centre for the Arts | RCA Youth Mural | 2024, Kelowna BC
Organizing and co-facilitating the RCA Youth Mural Project with Local Syilx artist Sheldon Louis and high school students from SD#23.
Parkallen Community League| The Imaginary Garden Mural | 2019, Edmonton AB
Planning and creating a 600 ft2 public mural. Facilitating community workshops. Recipient of City of Edmonton Community Mural Program Grant and the Edmonton Arts Council Neighbourhood Renewal Grant.
Argyll Community League| Argyll Community Mosaic Mural | 2018, Edmonton AB
Assisting with the creation of the 160 ft2 Argyll Community Mosaic Mural including laying the tiles, installing, and grouting.
Hardisty Elementary | Hardisty Elementary Junior High School Mural | 2018, Edmonton AB
Assisting with the creation of the Hardisty Elementary School Mural. Helping with classroom workshops to create the design, prepping and painting, facilitating children participating in painting.
Parkallen Community League| Canada 150 Community Mural | 2017, Edmonton AB
Assisting with the creation of the 500 ft2Canada 150 Community Mural. Helping with community workshops to create the design, prepping and painting, assisting with installation.
Media / Press
Rotary Centre for the Arts | Deep dive into the creation of the RCA Youth Mural Project | 2024, Kelowna BC
Emily Stubbs, Rotary Centre for the Arts. “Deep Dive into the Creation of the RCA Youth Mural Project.” Rotary Centre for the Arts Blog Post, June 18, 2024.
Edmonton Arts Council | 2019 City of Edmonton Community Arts Grant Recipient | 2019, Edmonton AB
Edmonton Arts Council, “2019 Community Arts Grant Recipient.” Edmonton Arts Council Blog Post, August 9, 2019.
Parkallen Community League | 2019 Garden Mural Project | 2019, Edmonton AB
Parkallen Community League, “2019 Garden Mural Project.” Parkallen Community League Post, June 2019.
Edmonton Sun | Community Mural for a Positive Parkallen | 2017, Edmonton AB
Claire Theobold, Edmonton Sun. “Community Mural a Positive for Parkallen.” Edmonton Sun, September 10, 2017.